The inexorable rise of private security in Papua New Guinea

The growth of private security is a global phenomenon, with the fastest expansion in recent years taking place in the developing world. Worth around US$165 billion worldwide in 2009, the industry is set to reach an estimated US$267 billion in 2018 (WSS 2016). While there is limited data available, Pacific Island countries appear to be conforming to the larger international pattern of private security vehicles, uniformed personnel, guard dogs and company logos. The industry has become a significant source of employment and favoured form of investment in many countries. As elsewhere, this reflects both an increase in demand for private security and a growth in the supply of such services. This paper examines the dramatic growth of private security in Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Pacific region's most populous and insecure country and the one with the largest urban population. As well as looking at the dimensions and character of the commercial sector, the paper will examine the critical issue of industry regulation and the relationship between private security and the national police force, the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC). The concluding section considers the political economy of this expanding sector and its potential implications for security governance in PNG in the years ahead.